Selecting Research and Development Center Partners for Semiconductor Industry in Taiwan

Attracting multinational enterprises to set up research and development centers (RDCs) in domestic is a key strategy to upgrade industry ability for developing countries. In 2004, in order to strengthen its competitiveness of IC industry, Taiwan government decided to actively select multinational enterprise and pursuer them to setup RDCs in Taiwan. This paper describes the process of identifying required technologies and partners. Analysis by industry intelligence institute and survey of industry executives are employed in the process. The process used in the study is a top-down approach beginning from structure of the whole semiconductor industry, to required critical technologies, to possible RDC partners. Promotion and invitation programs are executed based on the result of the analysis. Taiwan government successfully pursuer some of the target partners and have them set up RDCs in Taiwan.